He who stops to parley with temptation, will be very likely to yield.

The Buffoon and the Countryman.

[Illustration]

A rich nobleman once opened the theater to the public without charge,
and gave notice that he would handsomely reward any one who would
produce a new amusement. A Buffoon, well known for his jokes, said that
he had a kind of entertainment that had never been produced in a
theater. This report, being spread about, created a great stir in the
place, and the theater was crowded to see the new entertainment. The
Buffoon appeared, and imitated the squeaking of a little pig so
admirably with his voice, that the audience declared that he had a
porker under his cloak, and demanded that it should be shaken out. When
that was done, and yet nothing was found, they cheered the actor, with
the loudest applause. A countryman in the crowd proclaimed that he would
do the same thing on the next day. On the morrow a still larger crowd
assembled in the theater. Both of the performers appeared on the stage.
The Buffoon grunted and squeaked, and obtained, as on the preceding
day, the applause and cheers of the spectators. Next the Countryman
commenced, and pretending that he concealed a little pig beneath his
clothes (which in truth he did), contrived to lay hold of and to pull
his ear, when he began to squeak. The crowd, however, cried out that the
Buffoon had given a far more exact imitation. On this the Rustic
produced the pig, and showed them the greatness of their mistake.

Critics are not always to be depended upon.

The Boar and the Ass.

[Illustration]

A little scoundrel of an Ass, happening to meet with a Boar, had a mind
to be arch upon him, and so, says he: "Your humble servant." The Boar,
somewhat nettled at his familiarity, bristled up to him, and told him he
was surprised to hear him utter so impudent an untruth, and was just
going to show his resentment by giving him a rip in the flank; but
wisely stifling his passion, he contented himself with saying: "Go, you
sorry beast! I do not care to foul my tusks with the blood of so base a
creature."

Dignity cannot afford to quarrel with its inferiors.

The Fox and the Goat.

[Illustration]

A Fox, having fallen into a well, could find no means of escape. A Goat,
overcome with thirst, came to the well, and, seeing the Fox, inquired if
the water was good. The Fox, concealing his sad plight under a merry
guise, indulged in lavis